U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy is lauding passage by the Senate Judiciary Committee of legislation he coauthored with Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley to strengthen law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute fraud.
The Fighting Fraud to Protect Taxpayers Act will enhance existing efforts to investigate fraud, including the scourge of mortgage, foreclosure, financial and health care fraud that has victimized thousands of unsuspecting Americans.
The legislation will fill key statutory gaps to account for modern types of fraud, strengthening computer fraud and identity theft. It also gives the Secret Service the needed authority to more effectively investigate fraud.
Leahy says it also increases accountability by requiring the Justice Department to better manage and account for key spending.